title: [Expressions of COX-2 and MMP-2 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma and the their relationship with lymph node metastasis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and their relationship with lymph node metastasis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The expression of COX-2 and MMP-2 in 86 NPC tissues and 30 normal nasopharyngeal tissues were evaluated by immunohistochemical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The positive rate of COX-2 and MMP-2 in NPC tissue was 75.58% and 66.28% respectively, which was significantly higher than that in normal nasopharyngeal (P < 0.01). The expression of both COX-2 and MMP-2 were positively correlated with lymph node metastasis (P < 0.01). There was a positive correlation between the expression of COX-2 and MMP-2 (P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  COX-2 and MMP-2 expression are increased in NPC, and they may cooperate in the course of lymph metastasis of NPC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, the Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical College, Zhanjiang 524001, China. cuidewei@163.com
authors.forename: Dewei
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Xiangbao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yafeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; C522361:MMP2 protein, human; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2